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Older adults who experience, or are at risk of, homelessness are a uniquely vulnerable population. The elderly are not only naturally more susceptible to many maladies, including disease, mental health disorders, physical injuries and disabilities (World Health Organization, 2019), but they are also much more likely to be reliant on fixed incomes and disconnected from social networks (NIH, 2019). Recent data underscore that these risks have converged with historically high housing costs to fuel a housing precarity crisis within this population. Older adult homelessness increased 20% from 2017-2020 in Los Angeles (LAHSA, 2021), and the 2022 homeless count marked another 2% increase (LAHSA, 2022). Among those who experience homelessness, older adults are more likely than any other age group to be chronically homeless (HPRI, 2019). There are sharp racial disparities within this growing population, as well. Black and Latinx older adults are much more likely than their white counterparts to have experiences of homelessness (Mcqueen-Gibson et. al, 2021), reflecting the cumulative disadvantages they endure over the life course.

Effectively confronting the strong headwinds facing this vulnerable community requires researchers and policymakers to come together and answer several important, interrelated questions. How do we direct our resources to intervene before these trends grow worse? What housing and service interventions are most impactful for this population? How can we provide quality health care at prices that will not further destabilize older adults living on the margins? Which strategies can we use to develop housing that will meet the needs of an aging population, in general, and older adults of color, in particular – especially as many care facilities close?

Panelists:

June Cigar, Artist and Advocate

Artist June is well-respected and always supportive of her fellow artists at Piece by Piece, offering a kind word with a welcoming nature. She completed the Speak Up! Advocacy program through CSH (Corporation for Supportive Housing) and has represented the Skid Row and South Los Angeles communities in Sacramento, speaking to members of state government on issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, women’s issues, and arts wellness. She is a breast cancer survivor, and is passionate about advocating for women’s immediate health issues. As a trained artist with the program, she works on large and small scale commissions, and also enjoys making portraits of individuals who inspire her.

Jean Galiana, Older Adults System Coordinator, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

@jeangaliana 

As LAHSA’s Older Adult System Coordinator, Jean is focused on designing and implementing strategies based in age, ability, and racial equity to improve programs of prevention and housing for older adults. Jean is also committed to using gerontological expertise to support city and state advocacy efforts focused on older adult homelessness. Jean holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Lehman College and a Master’s of Aging Services Management degree from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. She coauthored: Aging Well. Solutions to the Most Pressing Global Challenges of Aging. Published by Springer in 2019. Jean is a proud board member of the California Communication Access Foundation (ccaf.us)

Ben Henwood, Professor and Director, USC Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Benjamin Henwood, PhD, LCSW, is a recognized expert in health and housing services research whose work connects clinical interventions with social policy. Dr. Henwood has specific expertise in permanent supportive housing and on improving care for adults experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness, as well as in the integration of primary and behavioral health care. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (including the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute on Aging) and he has served as the methodological lead for the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count since 2017, which is the largest unsheltered count in the United States. He is a co-author of a book on Housing First published by Oxford University Press, and is the co-lead the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Grand Challenge to End Homelessness. Dr. Henwood is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Lilliana Olivares, Program Coordinator, Kingdom Causes Bellflower 

 kcbellflower 

Lilliana Olivares has been working at Kingdom Causes Bellflower for 5 years. She began as a case manager in the rental assistance programs and has grown to become the Program Coordinator, with a focus on the Older Adult population.  She brings her heart for social justice and the justice system and her background in Sociology and Political Science to bring tangible impact to the lives of many.  She has been a passionate advocate for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in the local community. Her Latino heritage has been vital in her role as an advocate for the Latino community, especially undocumented immigrants and their families.  Lilliana continues to pursue innovative solutions for collaboration in the service system and for advocacy for those the system represents.

Dr. Laura Trejo, Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department

Dr. Laura Trejo is the first Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department. Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Trejo oversees programs and service delivery for older adults and adults with disabilities, including Adult Protective Services (APS), the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and the County’s fourteen Community and Senior Centers. Some of her key initiatives include Purposeful Aging Los Angeles (PALA) and the Los Angeles Aging Disability Resource Connection. With over 36 years of experience from the fields of aging, health, mental health, Alzheimer’s, and rehabilitation, Dr. Trejo is committed to creating culturally competent and impactful programs to ensure that all older adults and adults with disabilities can live with dignity and independence. A nationally and internationally recognized expert and advocate, Dr. Trejo is a sought-after panelist and keynote speaker.  Her commitment to excellence has earned recognition as an influential leader in program innovation, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Community Health Leadership award, considered the nation’s highest honor in community health. Dr. Trejo has also received Excellence in Leadership awards from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (now USAging), American Society on Aging, and National Hispanic Council on Aging. 

 Her advocacy work elevating the needs of the most vulnerable populations has been recognized by Justice in Aging, the Los Angeles Aging Advocacy Coalition, the Mexican American Opportunities Foundation, Fearless Caregiver.com, and the City of Hope.

Los Angeles Magazine named Dr. Trejo among the “50 Most Influential Women,” and the United States Library of Congress has recognized Dr. Trejo’s accomplishments as a force for social change.

 Dr. Trejo holds a doctorate in Social Work, Master level degrees in Gerontology and Public Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Long Term-Care Administration, all from the University of Southern California.

Moderator:

Morgan Sutton, Homeless Initiatives Coordinator (Older Adults), United Way of Greater Los Angeles

Morgan Sutton works on the Home for Good Initiative as the Coordinator on Older Adult Strategies with the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. This work includes driving improved performance in homeless service delivery systems for older adults and seniors by project managing the implementation of the Older Adult roadmap for ending homelessness among this target population. Some projects include Patient Navigation in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys, cross-sector collaboration in SPAs 6 & 7, and senior program development for Measure ULA. Previously, Morgan served as Legislative Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, specializing in homelessness policy development and implementation. She also served as Field Deputy for Council District 2 specializing in “boots on the ground” concerns with city homelessness policies, often bringing a field perspective to city hall. Morgan championed and launched many successful pilots for the City of Los Angeles such as seRVeLA, a Neighborhood-Based Unified Homelessness Response Team, and the Homelessness Multi-Disciplinary Street Team focused on high acuity individuals. She thrives on working with community advocates, elected representative offices and various coalitions to facilitate improvements across service providers, government agencies and strategic policies. Morgan holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science with Distinction from California State University, Northridge and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from University of California, Santa Barbara; and, is an active Coro Women in Leadership alumni.

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